| - So is RANDOM some kind of tribute album?
No sir, it ain't! - it's much more than that; much more than the sum of the parts.
- Is RANDOM available on 8-Track?
Hmmm...
RANDOM NOTES
ST.ETIENNE
St.Etienne's classy mix of disco beats, Spectoresque strings and '60s pop melodies has produced six years of international chart success since their debut single 'Nothing Can Stop Us' in 1991. Vocalist Sarah Cracknell took time off from her recent solo album, 'Lip Slide', to sing on this track.
Stormtrooper in Drag
Originally released as a solo single in 1981 by Tubeway Army's late bass player, Paul Gardiner, when it reached number 49 in the UK charts. The track is included as a bonus on the CD reissue of Dance.
MATT SHARP and DAMON ALBARN
Matt Sharp - Weezer's bassist and leader of his own electronic pop band The Rentals - invited Damon Albarn of Blur to collaborate with him on this obscure Tubeway Army track. Both artists sing and play keyboards on the song which also features Blur's drummer, Dave Rowntree. Sharp is currently writing a new Rentals album for Madonna's Maverick label, while Blur are releasing a further single from their self-titled UK Number One Album.
We Have a Technical
This was an out-take from the Replicas session and belatedly issued in 1985 on a rareties 12". The track is included as a bonus on the CD reissue of Replicas.
GRAVITY KILLS
This St. Louis industrial pop outfit have sold 500,000 copies of their debut album in America. They also contributed to the 'Seven' soundtrack and toured with the Sex Pistols on the punkster's American comeback tour.
Poetry and Power
First issued as a 'B' side of the single 'Warriors' in 1983. The track is included as a bonus on the CD reissue of Warriors. Numan was so impressed by this rendition that he wants to 're-cover' this arrangement in future live shows!
PECK SLIP
A fledgling New York band featuring fashion stylist Jennifer Tzar, guitarist Scissors who is a whizzkid technical adviser on U2's tour and Sterling Campbell, otherwise known as David Bowie's drummer on his 1995 album, 'Outside'. They are currently working on their debut album, 'Antarctica', but this is their first worldwide release.
I Can't Stop
One of the mid eighties singles released on the Numa label, the original reached number 27 in the UK charts in 1986.
AN PIERLE
Pronounced 'Peer-lay', actor, dancer and singer An was a finalist in Humo's Rock Rally '96, an annual competition in her native Belgium, and it was hearing that special, 'electrifying' performance of this song that alerted us to her talent.
Are 'Friends' Electric?
Not much of an introduction needed for this song which stormed the UK charts in 1979 and spent a month at the No.1 position. It's still one of the strangest songs to be a chart topper - it was way too long and all about robotic love machines - but, stripped bare of all the electronics, An Pierlé's version shows up just what a good song it is. The original is on the album Replicas.
EMF
This is possibly the last recording by the band who broke through as the rave scene's Sex Pistols in the late 1980's. Their single 'Unbelievable' was a massive international seller but they matured into a heavier sounding outfit on their 1992 album 'Stigma'. Their last CD, 'Cha Cha Cha' was their most varied and imaginative but their legendary partying finally took its toll on the band who unravelled, probably for good, at the end of last year.
We Are Glass
A single from 1980 which reached No.5 in the UK charts. Added as a bonus track to the Telekon CD.
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
Neil Tennant and White Town are massive fans of this reclusive New Yorker. In the UK he's released two critically acclaimed albums, 'Lost Highways' and 'Get Lost' on the indie label Setanta, with Mojo and NME amongst his most vocal supporters.
I Die: You Die
Appropriatly, the follow up single to 'We Are Glass', this reached No.6 on the charts and again has been added as a bonus track to the Telekon CD.
JESUS JONES
Electronica's rock dance phase started with Jesus Jones at the close of the last decade. Their second album 'Doubt' topped the UK charts in 1991, followed by 'Perverse', which peaked at six two years later. They've finally completed their long delayed fourth album, ironically entitled 'Already' which is preceded by a new single, 'The Next Big Thing
We Are So Fragile
First released as the 'B' side to "Are 'Friends' Electric?" in 1979, it is available as a bonus track on the Replicas CD.
POSH
Their debut single 'Shark Attack' was one of the fizziest pop singles of last year and they will back with a special CD box set of singles this summer on Rhythm King. Melody Maker have championed the trio as one of the breakthrough pop bands of this year.
She's Got Claws
Reached No.6 in the UK charts when released in 1981. The track also featured on the Dance album.
EARL BRUTUS
Their 1996 debut album, 'Your Majesty.....We Are Here', was described by Q Magazine as "astonishing, violent, funny, catchy, very original". The live shows of these pop ironists further underlined their credentials as one of the most innovative bands of the moment. Festival shows this summer should give them a helping hand to commercial success.
M.E.
An album track from The Pleasure Principle. When they first heard the track Earl Brutus seem to have had another groups album playing in the house at the same time, but didn't realise it was a different record!
UNDERDOG
British hip hop's most innovative producer and musician, the Underdog (real name Trevor Jackson) has worked with The Brotherhood, U2 and Everything But The Girl over the last couple of years. This track also features "hotly tipped" local rapper Lewis Parker, Supa T and DJ MK.
Films
Another album track from The Pleasure Principle, this has long been a favourite source of samplers.
SUKIA
Signed to ultra-hip British label Mo' Wax in the UK (and Nickel Bag in the USA), Sukia's Martian lounge muzak is a big favourite of Beck - they also live in the same Californian town. The recently released debut album 'Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo' is co-produced by the legendary Dust Brothers.
Me! I Disconnect From You
The opening track on Replicas and a live favourite.
THE ORB
Back in the UK charts with the Top Ten single 'Toxygene', The Orb's ambient dub is one of the classic sounds of British pop music. Although their 1991 album 'U.F.Orb' is their biggest success to date, they've re-established themselves both critically and commercially this year, culminating in a Top 20 placing for their sixth album.
Jo The Waiter (Bon Appétit Remix)
A song from the debut album, Tubeway Army. How do you turn a two minute pop song into 10 minutes and make it unrecognisable? Easy, just ask The Orb to remix it!
KENICKIE
They left school clutching a feast of A-levels last year and have scored a series of Top 40 hits and rave reviews. Their debut album, 'Kenickie At The Club', is one of the spunkiest releases of the year to date.
I'm An Agent
A track from the UK No.1 album Telekon.
JIMI TENOR
This Joe-90 look-alike, signed to the techno label Warp, stamps the song with his own particular brand of funky synth pop, played on two Russian analogue synthesisers. He's been described by The Times as "an original, talented and charismatic performer who fully justifies his current status as the name to drop in hip company."
Down In The Park
This song is a perennial favourite, and has already been covered by Foo Fighters and Marilyn Manson. The original was released as a single in 1979 and appeared on the platinum album Replicas.
MOLOKO
The dubby P-Funkateers have sold over 100.000 copies of their debut album, 'Do You Like My Tight Sweater?' and are fast becoming one of the hippest British bands in the States, rewarded by the inclusion of their song 'Fe Fi Fun For Me' in the new Batman movie.
Are 'Friends' Electric?
Three versions of AFE on one album? Yes, but three very different beasts and beats. This is a slinky-grooved serpent!
CHRIS HOLMES
A UFO-logist and radio DJ from Chicago, who works under several different band names (including Yum-Yum) as he moves between prog-ambient material and more pop based songs. His debut solo album for Atlantic Records received universal acclaim last year, not bad for someone who's still only twenty four.
Remember I Was Vapour
Another standout track from Telekon which was issued as a 12" single in Germany.
TOWERING INFERNO
An experimental duo whose 1995 album, 'Kaddish', fused together industrial rock with ambient sounds. Brian Eno described their music as "frightening", apt given the album's exploration of Europe in the wake of the Holocaust. The guest vocalist on this track is none other than Eddie Reader - as you've never heard her before!
Metal
Another song taken from the UK No.1 album The Pleasure Principle.
DUBSTAR
Everyday I Die
"We chose this one because it's about masturbation. When we met him, he said 'You Know what that song is about, don't you? I was a uniquely confused teenager" - Dubstar
AMANDA GHOST
Absolution
Since recording this version the song has been remixed by Alon Cohen and featured on the Ministry of Sound release - Dance Nation 5
DEADSY
This is the debut release by the USA band centred around Elijah Blue and Renn Hawkey, who are set to take their place in the growing post-goth, post-industrial "electronica" movement. They are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album due to be released on Sire later this year.
Replicas
Not surprisingly released on the album Replicas.
POP WILL EAT ITSELF
The black country hip-hoppers have turned heavier and more industrial since signing to Nothing Records in America - the label owned by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. Singer Clint is currently living in New York where he's writing a film soundtrack and preparing a new PWEI album.
Friends
Another song featured on the album Tubeway Army. This album was first released as a limited edition of 5000 in 1978, but went on to sell over 100,000 when reissued the following year. Since the release of this version Gary has reintroduced the song into his live set, doing a 'cover' inspired by this arrangement.
REPUBLICA
Since conquering the USA with their 'Ready To Go' single last year, this indie-techno outfit have broken through in their home country. Their second British Top 20 single, 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' peaked at 7 in April, as singer Saffron stakes her claim as one of the biggest new pop stars of 1997.
Are 'Friends' Electric?
This is the up front pop version of the song and the track also features a guest vocal appearance by Gary Numan himself.
WINDSCALE
The first release by one of the strangest bands we've heard in recent years, who's spikey punk-a-tronics perfectly reflect the maverick spirit of the whole album.
War Songs
Surprisingly, the only cover from the I, Assassin album.
BIS
They made a dramatic entry into the pop scene when they performed on UK television's Top Of The Pops as an unsigned band. Their debut album 'New Transistor Heroes' showcases a surprisingly eclectic and rapidly developing band, whose USA profile is also rapidly growing with a release on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label.
We Are So Fragile
A second take on this song with a skankfest on the bridge.
DAVE CLARKE
The original is still the greatest, and who better than Dave Clarke to give it an updated twist. In 1996 he took hardcore techno into the UK Top 40 with his album 'Archive One', remaining at the forefront of the global techno scene as a DJ and recently played his first live set at this summer's Tribal Gathering Festival.
Cars
Last, but by no means least, the UK no.1 single which also reached No.3 in the USA. The 'Louie Louie' of synth rock. |
